Sault and area weightlifters have experienced more competitive success.
Trish Barber and Lisa Fryia of the Sault and Michelle Pearson of Echo Bay recently competed at the Masters Provincial Weightlifting Championship on April 18 and 19 in Burlington.
Barber participated in the Women’s 60-64 age group, 86kg class. She lifted 49kg in the snatch and 68kg in the clean and jerk, finishing with a total of 117kg.
The snatch lift involves lifting a barbell from the floor and bringing the bar over the head in one swift movement. It demands strength, skill and speed.
The clean and jerk movement involves lifting the barbell to the shoulders then jerking it overhead.
Barber’s performance earned her three records, setting new provincial and Canadian marks.
Pearson, lifting in the Women’s 50-54 age group, 86kg class, finished with a 44kg snatch and a 60kg clean and jerk for a new personal best total of 103kg.
Fryia competed in the Women’s 40-44 age group, 77kg class.
She lifted a 61kg snatch and an 80kg clean and jerk, earning a top finish in her class.
All three women are now preparing to represent Canada on the world stage at the 2025 Masters World Championships in Las Vegas this September.
Barber, Fryia and Pearson have won several medals between them at competitions over the past few years.
Pearson’s first experience with weights and barbells was at the Sault’s Catalyst Fitness in 2017.
She was inspired by Barber, a personal friend, to get into weightlifting professionally.
“I wish more women would lift. Some women are intimidated by the sport. If you go into any commercial gym and you look at the weight room, who’s in there? Primarily men. I’m a huge advocate for empowering women,” Pearson told SooToday in a 2023 interview.
She said that she has never struggled with confidence and weightlifting has given her an even greater boost.
“If you can lift something really heavy, it’s like ‘yeah, I did that!’ Everyone should have that feeling. It makes me feel strong mentally as well as physically,” Pearson said.
“I like competing and pushing myself and with Olympic lifting I’m just competing against myself and getting better as I go along,” Barber added.